Draft rigging



Dec. 8, 1936. B. w. KADEL 2,063,876

DRAFT RIGGING Filed Jan. 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR W v a m e g ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1936.

B. W. KADEL DRAFT RIGGING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR E: 5 9 T \L Filed Jan. 6, 1932 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE DRAFT RIGGING Application January 6,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to draft rigging and, more particularly, to an arrangement allowing for greater movement and cushioning effect on buff than on draft.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the provision of draft mechanism involving two draft gears, both thereof adapted to operate in buff and only one in draft.

Another object of my invention is the provision of draft mechanism involving two draft gears, one thereof carried in a cradle, the other actuated by movement of the cradle, said cradle being also adapted to support an associated coupler or drawbar.

A further object of my invention is the provision of draft rigging involving a draft arm carrying a removable coupler block and slidably engaging the lower inner sill flanges for the support thereof, and in order to augment the capacity of the arrangement.

An additional object of my invention is the provision of a cast draft arm member having forwardly extending spaced portions adapted to embrace cushioning mechanism and portions extending in the opposite direction therefrom and slotted for receiving a key for connection with the underframe of an associated railway vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view of a railway vehicle underframe between the sills of which is disposed mechanism embodying my invention, the cushioning mechanism, front follower and associated coupler being shown in side elevation, and that portion only forwardly or outwardly of the forward portion of the center filler casting being shown.

Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1,

a but showing that portion of the construction rearwardly or inwardly of the rearward portion of the center filler casting.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the construction shown in Figure l, the cushioning mechanism or draft gear and other associated parts being shown in plan.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the construction shown in Figure 2 with portions in plan.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the 1932, Serial No. 585,119

line 55 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 6 and 7 are transverse sectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, there are shown portions of center or draft sills I connected at their ends by striking castings 2, only one of which is illustrated. Center filler castings 3 with king-pin-receiving thimbles, only one of which is shown, serve to connect intermediate portions of said sills, the upper flanges of which are desirably secured to a cover plate 4.

Movably mounted between the sills I is a preferably integrally cast draft sill or arm 5, said arm preferably being formed with spaced members 6 connected intermediate the ends of said arm by an abutment portion 1. The ends or outer portions of the spaced members 6 are preferably extended forwardly and downwardly and connected by a tie portion 8 which normally underlies an associated coupler or drawbar 9 and serves to rigidify the arm or draft member 5. In order to properly support, and prevent droopingof, the coupler or drawbar 9, a removable carrier block I0 is desirably supported from the arm 5 and secured thereto in any desired manner, as by means of a bolt, or the like I I.

The arms 6 of the draft member 5are desirably spaced a distance sufficient to accommodate a horizontal yoke I2 therebetween, said yoke normally embracing a draft gear or cushioning mechanism I3, an associated front follower I4, and the stem of the coupler or drawbar 9. In order to secure the parts in proper position, carrier irons I5 are desirably provided beneath the cushioning mechanism I3, and a front draft key I6 preferably extends through corresponding slots in the coupler stem 9, arms of the yoke I2, the arms 6 of the draft device 5, and the sills I, whereby the movable members are properly supported from the relatively fixed sills I. Likewise, a horizontal draft key I! desirably extends through slots in the front follower I4, the yoke I2, the movable draft member 5, and the sills I, to receive support from the latter.

Extending rearwardly from the abutment portion 1 of the draft or force-transmitting memher 5 are prongs or extensions I8, the center filler casting 5 being apertured, as indicated at I9, to receive said prongs I8, which extend a sufficient distance through the casting 3 so that the end portions thereof may be slotted, as indicated at 20', to receive a connecting draft key 2 I,

the outer ends of which are preferably snugly received in slots 22 in cheek plates 23 and/or the sills I. The extensions I8, therefore, serve for connecting the draft member 5 to the sills and limiting forward or outward movement of the former, the slots 20, however, being forwardly elongated, as shown, particularly in Figure 4, so that rearward movement of the draft member 5 is allowed for actuating the cushioning mechanism 24 through the associated front follower 25.

Although the cushioning mechanism 4 is shown in the present embodiment as involving a housing 25 open at both ends to receive friction blocks 21 and curved plate springs 28, the exposed ends of which are engaged by the front follower 25 and the rear follower 29, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to this form of cushioning mechanism. In the present embodiment, the rear follower 29 is normally engaged by rear stop means 30, and the forward follower 25 engages the rear end portions of the cheek plates 23, said followers and draft gear being supported on carry irons 3I and 32. The draft gear 24 is desirably held in position by properly formed plate devices 33 desirably connected to the sills I, as shown most clearly in Figure '7.

The operation of the mechanism heretofore described is as fo1lows:--Under the action of draft forces, the coupler 9 moves forwardly, compressing the draft gear I3 against the front follower I4 held against forward movement by the key I'I stopped by engagement with the front ends of the correspondingly slotted portions in the movable draft arm 5 which, in turn, is held against forward movement by the key 2I. Although the cushioning mechanism I 3 is shown as of the friction type involving a housing 34 open at one end to receive friction wedges 35 actuated by curved plate springs 36, the exposed ends of the wedges 35 being engaged by a rear follower 31 which, in turn, is engaged by the yoke, I donot wish to be limited to this showing, as other types of cushioning devices may be employed.

When the coupler 9 is subjected to bufling forces, the cushioning mechanism I3 is compressed through the front follower I4 against the abutment portion I of the movable draft arm 5. If sufficient buffing force is applied to overcome the frictional resistance of the arm 5 sliding on the lower inner flanges of the sills I, as shown most clearly in Figure 5, the draft arm device 5 moves bodily rearward, its generally fiat rear end surfaces engaging and pushing the follower 25 in the same direction, which, in turn, urges the front blocks 21 into the housing 24 which, in turn, moves rearwardly over the rear blocks 21 which are stopped by the rear follower 29 engaging the stop members 30.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that only the cushioning mechanism l3 serves to absorb draft forces, while both mechanisms I 3 and 24 serve for the absorption of bufiing forces, if applied in sufficient amount. The coupler 9, therefore, moves forwardly from normal a distance as indicated by the dotted line 9 whereas the extreme rearward position of the coupler is indicated by the dot-dash line 9 As will be understood, the draft arm 5 moves rearwardly from normal a distance sufficient to compress the cushioning mechanism 24 only.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and

that the terms and expressions used are employed for purposes of description and not of limitation. It will also be understood that inasmuch as the yoke I2 and cushioning mechanism I3 are desirably of usual or standard size, the sills I are preferably spaced a distance greater than normal to accommodate the members 6 of the draft arm 5.

I claim:

1. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, yoke-acting means disposed between said sills and connected to said drawbar, cushioning mechanism disposed rearwardly of said drawbar and embraced by said yoke-acting means, a center filler casting connecting said sills rearwardly of said yoke-acting means, a draft device having an extension passing through said center filler casting, said yokeacting means being connected to said device, means connecting said device to said draft sills rearwardly of said center filler casting for positively limiting outward movement of said device, and cushioning mechanism disposed rearwardly of said extension and actuated thereby only on buff.

2. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, yoke-acting means connected to said drawbar, cushioning mechanism associated with said yoke-acting means, an integral draft device movably mounted between said sills and having forwardly extending arms between which said yoke-acting means and cushioning mechanism are disposed, said arms being connected by a portion normally engaged by said yoke-acting means for the transmission of buffing forces, said arms having front portions extending diagonally forward and downward and connected by a transverse portion underlying said drawbar, and cushioning mechanism disposed rearwardly of said draft device and actuated thereby only on buff.

3. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, yoke-acting means connected to said drawbar, cushioning mechanism associated with said yoke-acting means, a center filler casting disposed rearwardly of said yoke-acting means, a force-transmitting member having forwardly extending portions lying on either side of said yoke-acting means and rearwardly extending portions passing through the center filler casting, means connecting said rearwardly extending portions to said sills, and cushioning mechanism disposed rearwardly of said rearwardly extending portions and actuated thereby on buff.

4. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, yoke-acting means connected to said drawbar, cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke-acting means, a draft device movable with respect to the sills, said device comprising spaced portions connected by a transversely extending portion normally engaged by said yoke-acting means, means intersecting said device for the transmission of draft forces from said yoke-acting means, said means having its end portions extended outwardly through said sills to receive support therefrom, key means intersecting said device and sills for preventing movement of said device outwardly from normal with respect to said sills, and cushioning mechnism disposed rearwardly of said device and actuated thereby on buff.

5. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, force-transmitting means comprising an integral draft device having horizontally spaced arms connected near one pair of ends and formed with slots adjacent the other ends, cushioning mechanism disposed between said arms, draft key means passing through said slots, a coupler connected to said draft device by said key means, said device having arms extending from said connection in a direction opposite to that of said first-mentioned arms and horizontally spaced, said sills being connected by a center filler casting apertured to allow said lastmentioned arms to pass therethrough, the end portions of said last-mentioned arms being slotted, and a key connecting said slotted portions to said sills rearwardly of said center filler casting.

6. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, yoke-acting means connected to said drawbar, cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke-acting means and disposed rearwardly of said drawbar, a member connecting said sills rearwardly of said yoke-acting means, a draft and buffing device having forwardly extending arms lying on either side of said yoke-acting means, rearwardly extending portions, in approximately the same horizontal plane as said arms, passing through said sill connecting member, means connecting said device to said sills, and cushioning mechanism disposed rearwardly of said sill connecting member and actuated by said rearwardy extending portions only on buff.

7. As an article of manufacture, a draft device having arms connected near one pair of ends, formed with draft key slots adjacent the other ends and horizontally spaced to function as draft members, said device being formed with portions extending from said connection in the opposite direction from said arms, horizontally spaced a less distance than said arms, and formed with draft key slots.

8. As an article of manufacture, an integral draft device with horizontally spaced arms connected near one pair of ends, formed with draft key slots adjacent the other ends and adapted to function as draft members, said device being formed with portions extending from said connection in the direction opposite to that of said arms and horizontally spaced a less distance than said arms, the end portions of said extensions being formed with draft key slots.

9. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, force-transmitting means comprising a plurality of separate parts, means connecting said drawbar to one part of said forcetransmitting means, said force-transmitting means comprising a part underlying said drawbar forwardly of its connection therewith to prevent drooping, cushioning mechanism embraced by said force-transmitting means, means connecting said sills rearwardly of said cushioning mechanism and another part of said force-transmitting means passing through said connecting means, and other cushioning mechanism disposed rearwardly of said connecting means and actuated by said force-transmitting means on buff only.

10. In railway draft rigging, in combination with a railway vehicle underframe, a drawbar, yoke-acting means, means connecting said drawbar and yoke-acting means for transmitting draft forces therebetween, cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke-acting means, said underframe comprising sills and means connecting said sills rearwardly of said yoke-acting means, a force-transmitting member having a forwardly facing surface normally engaged by said yokeacting means and passing through said connecting means, means intersecting portions of the underframe and said force-transmitting means and limiting relative longitudinal movement of the latter, and other cushioning mechanism disposed rearwardly of said force-transmitting member and actuated thereby on buff only.

11. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, horizontal yoke-acting means connected to said drawbar, cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke-acting means, a draft device, movable with respect to the sills, having forwardly extending arms embracing said yoke-acting means and cushioning mechanism and rigidly connected intermediate its ends by a portion normally engaging said yoke-acting means, said yoke-acting means and arms having registering slots, keys disposed in said slots for transmitting force to said device, said sills having slots supportingly receiving the end portions of said keys, said sills being spaced apart a distance greater than normal to accommodate said draft device, key means intersecting continua-, tions of said draft device arms rearward of the connected portions and limiting outward movement of said device with respect to said sills, and cushioning means disposed rearwardly of said device and actuated thereby on buff.

12. As an article of manufacture, an integral f Oreo-transmitting member having laterally spaced arms adapted to function as draft members and each formed with a pair of longitudinally alined draft key slots and outwardly extending ribbing bordering the edges of said slots for increasing the key bearing area, said arms being connected by an abutment portion beyond the slots but intermediate the ends of the member, portions at the end of the slotted portion extending diagonally downward and integrally connected by a transverse portion, and the arms away from the slots and beyond the abutment portion having generally flat end surfaces for applying bufling force to cushioning mechanism therebeyond.

BYERS W. KADEL. 

